The original Parmly Billings Memorial Library, named after Frederick and Julia Billings' eldest child, was dedicated in October, 1901. The Richardsonian Romanesque building located at 2822 Montana Avenue, was constructed in three phases. The original center piece was designed by Charles S. Haire. See 'Library Dedicated', The Billings News, October 5, 1901. The second phase and third phase were designed by J.G. Link and C.S. Haire. The east wing opened in 1911 with a children's room and reference area. The west wing, dedicated in 1924, held the first museum collection in the city's history - See 'Laud Benefaction to Local Library', Billings Gazette, February 13, 1924 and 'Parmly Billings Memorial Library Looks Back 35 Years', Billings Gazette, Sept 27, 1936. Frederick Billings, Jr. donated the money for the original building and the east wing, while his sister, Elizabeth Billings, donated the funds to build the west wing. The Public Library moved in 1969 and the Western Heritage Center museum re-opened the building in 1971. See Parmly Billings Library: The First One Hundred Years, by Jim Curry, 2002.

Billings Public Library is unaware of any copyright in the images in the collection. We encourage use of these materials under the fair use clause of the 1976 copyright act. All images in this collection may be used for educational, scholarly purposes and private study. We do request that a credit line be included with each item used. If you wish to publish or reproduce the material in any physical or digital form that exceeds that permitted by fair use or use them for any commercial purpose, including display or web page use, you must obtain prior written permission from Billings Public Library.